Growing Flowers 45 



Propagating chrysanthemums from seed makes a 

 very interesting study. Seeds saved from single- 

 flowering plants often produce greatly improved 

 varieties. The plants usually will be thrifty and 

 will bloom the first year. 



Cuttings of chrysanthemums should be inserted 

 in pots of sandy soil. They should not be kept in 

 a room which has a great deal of heat, for they are 

 a cold-weather plant. As soon as they are well 

 rooted they should be transferred to a rich loam 

 with which has been mixed a little leaf soil and 

 sand. 



When it is desired to produce fine large chrys- 

 anthemums without regard to the number of flowers, 

 all but one bud should be pinched off as soon as 

 they appear. Usually the first crown bud which 

 forms in the apex of the shoot will be the largest 

 flower. 



An excellent fertilizer for chrysanthemums may 

 be made by mixing five ounces of nitrate of soda 

 with five ounces of kainit, five ounces of a super- 

 phosphate, and one ounce of sulphate of iron. If 

 this is desired in liquid form, dissolve the mixture 

 in fifteen gallons of water. 



